Articles
Rep. Pettersen Votes No on Budget Resolution That Sets Stage for $70 Billion Expansion of ICE and CBP
Washington,
April 30, 2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) voted against Republicans’ budget resolution that would pave the way for up to $70 billion in funding over three years for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the reconciliation process. The bill initiates the budget reconciliation process, a fast-track legislative process that allows certain budget-related measures to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. Republicans failed to include any meaningful policy reforms to ICE and CBP operations, such as body camera requirements and other accountability measures. Speaker Mike Johnson has consistently rejected the bipartisan Senate-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which would fully fund all DHS agencies – including the Transportation Security Administration and the United States Coast Guard – while excluding additional funding for ICE and CBP. “Instead of working with Democrats to bring necessary reforms to ICE, Republicans are abusing the legislative process to give $70 billion to Trump’s lawless operations. The American people overwhelmingly agree that ICE is out of control and must be reined in. We were told that they would deport violent criminals, but instead, they are detaining children, deporting legal residents and refugees, and murdering U.S. citizens in cold blood with impunity. All while ripping health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans. “House Republicans have forced the longest government shutdown in American history because of their refusal to work with Democrats to ensure our TSA agents, FEMA workers, and members of the Coast Guard are paid and their critical services are uninterrupted. The American people are exhausted by the dysfunction in Washington and desperately want a functioning federal government. “From chaos at airports to missed paychecks for our federal employees, this incompetency has huge ramifications for the American people. Our country deserves so much better than this.” Rep. Pettersen consistently called for legislation to fund all agencies and offices – including TSA and FEMA – within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except for ICE and CBP. Additionally, she signed a discharge petition to force a vote on this legislation after House Republican Leadership refused to move the bill forward. Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, including opposing over $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” She also supports legislation to require DHS and ICE officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions, legislation that would reinstate protections that bar ICE from conducting immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, including churches, schools, hospitals, and non-immigration courts, and has demanded accountability from DHS. ### |